Budget: Ivanhoe electorate

Schools in the Ivanhoe electorate have missed out on capital works funding for the third year running under the Liberal state government. Despite increasing school enrolments across all local primary and secondary schools, the Napthine Liberal government has ignored local families and school communities. This is three strikes in three years against the Napthine Liberal government, which has failed to provide capital works funding to fix schools in the Ivanhoe electorate in its past three budgets. The Premier is happy to sell off school sites in Heidelberg Heights and Bellfield, but he refuses to invest any funds in rebuilding local schools.

The budget allocated some $203 million for capital works for schools but none for those in the Ivanhoe electorate.

Last week $52 million was allocated by the government for school maintenance projects, but no funds were allocated to Ivanhoe schools. There is only one government high school in the Ivanhoe electorate, Viewbank College — my old school — with 1200 students, yet it received nothing from this government for the third year running, despite increasing enrolments and great academic results.

The budget also failed to provide funds for any public transport capital works for Rosanna railway station or to increase the frequency of the route 517 bus service. The need for safety upgrades for Rosanna Road at the intersection of Lower Plenty Road and Greensborough Highway have been ignored, and this remains a serious accident black spot in our community. The Austin Hospital also failed to secure funds to begin planning the upgrade of its emergency department. Local volunteer sporting clubs have been overlooked again, and there are no funds to help the council rebuild Ivanhoe library.

Despite Ivanhoe residents paying their taxes and charges and balancing their family budgets, the Napthine Liberal government has again thumbed its nose at them. They will not forget; they will remember that they keep being ignored by this Liberal government.